ReasonRacer - Vocabulary Sorted by Pit Stop

Pit Stop 1: Identifying Types of Evidence

evidence - Information that is evaluated and presented to support or refute a claim
data - Measurable observations of an object or event that are quantifiable or qualitative
fact - An observation of an object or event that has been repeatedly confirmed that scientists agree upon
opinion - A personal belief, point of view, or perspective that might be based on evidence or on values or both
theory - A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world based upon a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment

claim - A statement about the natural world based on scientific observation intended to persuade another person

qualifier - A word used to modify or narrow the focus of the claim. They clarify claims and make them more accurate.

reliability - The extent to which evidence is consistent (example: getting the same results each time you repeat the measurement)
validity - The extent to which evidence addresses the claim
objectivity - The extent to which a personal opinion or conflict of interest does not influence the collection, analysis, interpretation of the evidence. No apparent bias
methodology - The scientific methods used to obtain trusted scientific evidence (e.g., good experimental design, good technique of data collection and analysis)

reasoning - The process of using logical thinking to evaluate and explain how the evidence and methodology supports or refutes the claim
chain of reasoning - A statement of general principles, assumptions, values, and beliefs that explain how the evidence is used to support the claim (aka warrant)
authority - A person or source of information that is trusted based on knowledge, expertise, or position
logic - A type of reasoning using rules or principles
- analogy - A type of logical reasoning that explains the agreement of the relationship between the respective parts and interactions of two similar systems
- correlation - The type of logical reasoning that evaluates the relationship between two variables in which the change is similar, but might not prove cause-and-effect
- cause-and-effect - A type of logical reasoning that evaluates a relationship in which one event is responsible for another event
- generalization - A type of logical reasoning that if something is true for a well-chosen sample, it is likely to hold for a similar larger group or population
theory - A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world based upon a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment

reasoning - The process of using logical thinking to evaluate and explain how the evidence and methodology supports or refutes the claim

counterargument - An alternative argument for the claim based on fact, data, theory, opinion, or other forms of reasoning
rebuttal - A statement of an opposing viewpoint that a claim is wrong, invalid, or unacceptable with an explanation using evidence and reasoning
new question - A statement suggesting other questions that should be investigated related to the claim